What is Mind Mapping ?

This page is focused on an advanced memory technique that is called Mind Mapping. We will see some theory about how the human mind process information and how we can use these powerful technique to improve our learning capability. Note that this is a theoretic page. If you want to see some examples of this technique click here.

The method we are going to discuss here was invented by Tony Buzan, a very decisive personality in the research of the human mind. Tony Buzan has written over 80 books related to “increase your mind power” techniques. One of the most revolutionary was mind mapping which we will discuss here. For more information about Tony Buzan you can visit http://www.buzanworld.com/Im_Tony_Buzan.htm.

How the human brain process the words

It was believed for many years that the human mind was operating in a linear way. The main communication methods, such as the speech and the press, introduce to us information linearly. The view that the human mind learns linearly was established because of this fact. Beside this, the education methods were constructed upon this principle.

When we talk with someone we listen and we say one word at a time. It was assumed that the speech is a linear process. The written text seemed to be even more linear that the speech. All the written information was presented in a serial way which the individual had to read in a specific order in order to understand the meanings.

Because of these assumptions, the accepted way of learning is still linear. You may have noticed that when you had to keep notes of a lecture, you were creating lists of keywords or even whole sentences. This type of keeping notes is considered as the commonest way.

But recent evidence has proved that the human mind has a multi dimensional nature, pointing that there must be a mistake in the above assumptions for the linear way of learning.

Ok, it is reasonable that communication travels linearly from a person to another, but what happens inside their minds when they send and receive information? Every brain is different and the incoming information triggers different processes. All these processes depend on the organism’s nature.

When we talk to another person we may pronounce the words in a specific order which is like a line, but inside our brains there is a very complex process of checking, discarding and selecting hundreds of words and expressions. Whole networks of words and ideas mix and interconnect in order to send a meaningful and clear message to our listener.

Similarly, the listener does not observe just a list of words and nor his brain creates a list. He receives every word as a part of a phrase which has a meaning, triggering a response. This same word in another sentence may have a completely different meaning so it may trigger a completely different response.

Also, the same word has different impact in different persons. Everyone’s response to this word is dictated from his experiences. This is also the reason that some people may react negatively to words that you weren’t thought as negatives.

The human mind receives not only linear information. If you think about it, in your everyday life you receive information in a non linear way. A photo is a characteristic example. There is no start or end in a photo neither in a diagram nor in the environment which surrounds you.

Recent research of biochemistry, physiology and psychology everyday proves that the human mind not only isn’t linear but also is even more complex and multi-dimensional.

The concept of Mind Mapping

Instead of reading from top to bottom as we do with a list, it is preferable to start from the center, where the main concept lies, and move towards the edges creating branches that are associated with other concepts. A mind map offers significant advantages over the traditional linear way of taking notes. Some of them are listed below:

• The main concept which is always at the center of the diagram is clearer.

• The concepts that are closer to the center are those who are more important. Thus, it is more distinct which concepts have higher gravity.

• The connections between the concepts are directly identifiable.

• Repetition and retrieval will be faster and more efficient.

• The nature of the map allows adding new information easily.

• Every mindmap is unique. This helps retrieval.

So how can you create a mind map? Just follow the rules and open your mind.

Rules

Focus on the following rules in order to create a mind map.

1. Start with a colored picture or a drawing in the center of the paper. This will be the main concept. The picture enhances creativity and helps memory.

2. Use pictures or draws wherever is possible throughout the whole map.

3. The words must be in capitals. Capital letters are clearer and helps future readings and repetitions as well as retrieval.

4. All the connections must be drawn as lines which over them are written the keywords of the rule (3). All the lines should connect with other lines. This will establish the basic form of your map.

5. It is preferable to write a single word per line and not whole sentences. This makes the mind map more flexible as you take notes.

6. Use colors. Colors enhance memory and please the eyes. As a result they stimulate the brain better. 7. Free your mind. Mind mapping is a creative process. Any thought like where to place the concepts or which of them to connect will only slow the technique. Creating a mind map is a brainstorming process around the main concept. You have to write down as many ideas as possible, don’t stop. If you stop try to concentrate again and continue from where you stopped.

You can check here some examples of mind maps. I have created three mind maps based on the content of this site.

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References

"Use Your Head" by Tony Buzan